Tehran in contact with Yerevan, Baku to ease tensions
The spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Iran said Tehran is closely monitoring the situation in the Caucasus and stays in contact with Baku and Yerevan to ensure peace and security.
Nasser Kanaani made the remarks at a press conference on Monday in response to a question about the possibility of a flare-up of tensions between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, Tasnim news agency reported.
“The Armenian officials have voiced their concern about the possibility of (military) clashes, but the Azerbaijani officials sent word that they have no intention of clashing (with Armenia),” he added, describing the Republic of Azerbaijan’s recent deployment of troops as a “conventional military action” ahead of winter.
“Iran is intently monitoring the developments. We have been given an assurance that Iran’s borders are safe, and we support the security of boundaries,” Kanaani underlined.
He noted that Iran has firm, transparent stances on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Iran’s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh region — which has been announced explicitly several times — is not secret. Nagorno-Karabakh is part of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the rights and security of its residents must be defined within a definite framework,” he added.
Reiterating Iran’s call for respecting the territorial integrity of states and alleviating tensions, Kanaani said a major step in resolving disputes between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and achieving peace and security is for the two countries to mutually recognize each other’s territorial integrities.
On Sunday, a military official dismissed as “baseless” the reports about the deployment of Iranian troops on the northern border with the Republic of Azerbaijan under the current tense circumstances in the South Caucasus.
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for International Cooperation Mohammad Ahadi, who was leading an Iranian military delegation in Baku for the Azerbaijan-Iran Joint Commission meeting, said such reports are “completely groundless”.
Armenia-US joint drill underway
Meanwhile, the controversial joint military drills between Armenian and US forces kicked off Monday, the latest sign the Caucasus country is drifting from Moscow’s orbit, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reshapes the post-Soviet space.
The exercises come with frustration growing in Armenia that Russia has failed to act as a security guarantor as tensions build with historic rival Azerbaijan backed by Turkey, VOA wrote.
Armenia’s defense ministry said the exercises aim to “increase the level of interoperability” with US forces in international peacekeeping missions.
Moscow, which leads a military alliance that includes Armenia, summoned Armenia’s ambassador this week to complain about “unfriendly steps” the country was taking.
The ministry said Armenia’s envoy was given a “tough” rebuke but stressed the countries “remain allies”.